Authorities, revelers prepare for New Year's Eve in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ -- If the year 2013 flew by too quickly, at least the last few seconds of it can be savored at the annual New Year's Eve countdown in downtown Santa Cruz on Tuesday night.

Police plan to close streets near the Town Clock at Pacific Avenue and Water Street from 11:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m., where there will be music, fireworks and "Auld Lang Syne" on tap.

Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said authorities also will continue their tradition of triple fines for open alcohol containers and other scofflaws that night.

"We want people to enjoy New Year's Eve, but do it safely and responsibly so they can be able to enjoy 2014," Clark said.

Police have planned extra patrols for downtown Santa Cruz and throughout the city Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. A triple-fine "safety enhancement zone" essentially covers downtown and will run from 5 p.m. Dec. 31 to 5 a.m. Jan. 1.

Triple-fine citations that night will include $288 tickets for littering, $576 tickets for graffiti, $576 tickets for urinating in public and $1,056 tickets for destroying plants, according to police.

During the last New Year's Eve festivities, police arrested 21 people on suspicion of public intoxication and issued 31 citations, mainly for alcohol related problems.

Police said the weather will factor in to the crowd size downtown Tuesday night.

About 7,000 people attended last year's New Year's Eve celebration downtown, which had clear, cold weather. Tuesday night, mostly clear skies are expected with a low of 36 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

There is also an annual, do-it-yourself "Last Night" parade on Pacific Avenue earlier in the night that is not sanctioned by the city.

No permits have been issued for it, authorities said, but it starts about 5:30 p.m. and begins on Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street. Costumed revelers in previous years have played drums and bagpipes and marched up Pacific Avenue -- although police discourage participation because its participants have not coordinated with authorities.

Police from Santa Cruz and Capitola, as well as the American Automobile Association, asked people to remember to designate a sober driver before the party gets started on New Year's Eve.

Capitola police will offer free rides home from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Friday by calling 831-475-4244. The service is available from Capitola to as far as Aptos and Santa Cruz.

The AAA also will offer its Tipsy Tow service, in which AAA tow truck drivers will tow the driver's vehicle up to 10 miles home for free. Drivers, party hosts, bartenders and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 for the Tipsy Tow service from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, said Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for AAA Northern California.

"Everybody wants to have fun at a New Year's party," Harris said. "But if you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Give AAA a call and we'll make sure you get home safely."